Why Have I Lost Weight But No Inches? PLEASE HELP!!

  • I have been following a low carb diet since February and have since lost 42 pounds. I keep hitting stalls, sometimes for weeks at a time so I thought that adding exercise to my routine would move things along faster and help get me in better shape.

    I just started exercising about 1.5 weeks ago. I have been doing 10 laps in the pool, along with water aerobics about 3-4 times a week, plus I have been doing about 22 minutes on the treadmill as well.

    I have seen a drop in my weight this month of about 6 pounds but when I measured my self this morning I was so disappointed because I haven't lost any inches? What the heck? It doesn't make any sence? How do you lose weight and not shrink even a little?

    I am sore from head to toe, so I thought that maybe my muscles are just swollen up or something? I just don't know... Right now I just feel like crying and giving up.

    Maybe I am also retaining water? I did go to the movies last night and I had a diet coke and a bag of salty pumpkin seeds (only 4 net carbs)

    Please let me know if anyone has any ideas or subjections... Thank you!!!

    Feffyy
  • I'm not sure about your particular situation...but IMHO I'd say try strength training with dumbbells alongside cardio....I calorie count and do about 45 minutes a day of cardio on average, and about 20 minutes of upperbody work every other day...In 11 weeks I've lost 21.5 pounds in 2.5" off my waist, 2.5" off my hips, and 2-3" off each thigh....so maybe watch your calories, do a nice chunk of cardio, and add strength training in. Just my opinion.
  • Everyone loses differently; some show inches lost almost immediately; some take longer. A week and a half is not a long time to judge yet.

    Fat deposits are in different parts of the body- just under the skin, and deep in the muscle and organ tissue. If you are losing deep fat, you won't necessarily see it in inches lost. I lost fat in my face; it was noticeable, but it doesn't show on my abs.

    I agree that some weight training is always a good thing to do. By building muscle, you speed up your metablolism, thereby expending more calories during the day. Mixing up your types of exercise works the body in different ways.
  • Feffyy -- Congrats on your weightloss, 42# is nothing to scoff at ... As Northernbell said, everyone loses differently and a week and a half is not enough time to tell if you have lost inches yet...Continue with your workouts, add some weigh training to speed up your metabolism, add some fun exercises too like biking, walks outside too, taking the stairs, just be a more active person all around and I promise that if you do everything right the weight will come off eventually... be patient and persistant...

    Good luck and let us know how you are doing...